Carton stuffing machine



Aug. 20, 1935. c. BOND l 2,011,793

CARTON STUFFI NG MACHINE Aug. 20, 1935. c. L. BoND CARTON STUFFING MACHI NE Filed May 9', 1934 4 sheets-sheet 2 Altoffmeys Inventor *t i.'

ug. 20, 1935. c.' BOND CARTON STUFING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 9, 1954 Aug. 20, 1935.v c. I .BoND

CARTON STUFFING MACHINE Filed May 9,. 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Y* zo Patented Aug. 20, 1935 Esme i autres ycs'roN STUFFING MACHINE v Charles L. Bond, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May; 9,1934, serial No. 724,7?.6 i

` Y i "21 claims. (einsam This invention relates to a machine :for plac- V, ing collapsed llersin collapsedor folded cartons.

lapsed iillers inl the cartons. These machines are generally known in :the trade as stuing machines. r The cartons which are received by this machine are in afknockeddown orfolded condition and present two extensions or iaps which diverge fromeach other; that :is to say,they form a dihedral angle or'folded edge, which is `disposed forwardly when Vthe carton is fedforward to the stufng machine. 1 In this waythe flap or free portion of the carton that projects away.y from the body of the carton will not interfere with the movements of the 4carton through the machine.

- toprovide a-machirie for receiving av carton in vthisconditicnand having means for feeding the Acollapsed filler into position'adjacent the carton,

Avand then advancing `the same into the `angler be- 'tween the diverging portions of the carton.

,from a carton machine, and one of the objects of the-invention is Yto provide a construction which will automatically start the operation of thei stuffing machine whenever a carton isfed through to it from the stufng machine.

A'further object of the-invention is to provide are particularly adapted to enable the ,diiferent Yoperationsof the stuffing machine izo-'be nicely i timed.

*A further'object of the invention is to provide 'the stufling machinewith meansfor packing the stuffed :cartons into a compact bundle, ready to be tied' up for shipment.'

'Further objects of the invention will ,appearl Vhereinafter. l. n e Y *Y v The invention consists rof the novel parts and combination of parts tobe described hereinafter,

all of which contribute to produce an eflicient carton stuing machine. V

w yA preferred embodiment ofthe inventionl is describedin the followingv specication, while ,the

One of theobjects of this inventionuisv broad scope of theinvention is pointed out in the appended claims. i i

In thedrawingsz Figure l `is a sideelevation of a stuiiing ma-l chine. embodying my invention and indicating the feed device which .is associated with thecarton machinefor delivering the folded cartons to the stung machine. .i

\ Figure 2 may be considered a vertical section taken 'about onthe line 2-2 of Figure 1. This view is upon .an .enlarged scale and represents certain parts brokeniaway'.' A

Figure 3 is `a longitudinal, vertical section through the stuffing table and taken about on the line 3-"-3 of Figure 2, omitting theemagazine for thellers thatis shown in Figure2. This view illustrates the carton' and the filler adjacent to each other and ready torhave the machine advance the filler into the'carton. This view also illustrates fthe stacking devicey that receives the stuffed cartons and pushes them into a stack orpack. ManyA parts in this view are represented broken away. i 1

Figure 4 is a plan of the partsillustrated in Figure 2, certain parts being shown in cross section, or broken away. This View also illustrates part of. the pneumatic picker mechanism for feeding the collapsed'fllers into place for stufng them into the cartons. v Figure 5 is a horizontal section andfurther illustrating details of `parts illustrated in plan in Figure 4. These parts constitute part of the mechanism for receiving. a stuffed carton `and pushingthesame into a pack. i

Figure16 .is a side elevation of a cam which is s part of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure'lis aside elevation of a clutch member which. is part of. the mechanism illustrated in a machine for this purpose, the elements of which Figure 5 and which cooperates with the Cam il' lustratedvin Figure 6. i Figure 8 is a view of` a diagrammatic nature, and `particularly illustratingthe main shaft of the stuffing machine, together with` the driving chains associated with it. This View also illus-V trates theA automatic mechanism which I prefer to employ for starting up the stuffing machine when cartons come' to it from the carton machine. Figure9 is a vertical section through the main shaft, taken .on the line 9 9 of Figure 10, and particularly'illustrating av one-revolution `clutch which is illustrated in Figure 8. 1 Figure 10 is a vertical section takenon the line lil-I0 of Figure 9, certain parts being-broken away, and further. i11ustratine-ldetails vof the clutch illustrated in Figure 9.

Before proceeding to a detailed description. ofl

the machine in which this invention is embodied,

Y it should be stated'that in the present description stuiiing machine, by means .of "a conveyor, and.

the inventionis appliedto a machine which 'rea ceives folded or VVlrnocked' downf cartons from `a jicarton machine. -These cartons .are advanced.

one byy one .automatically into'lposition v*in 'the whenr a' cartonV arrives*v at a 'certain point on vthe conveyor the stufng'maolfiineris started ',up..rvIn

d is iinally leftin-a'prede'termined position Yon the stung' "table, While'. `the 1 carton', is' advancin frornthe point whereit .t'rps the startingdevice y n for .the stuiingrnachine to. the point wheref'the i carton is left in the stuiiingl..machine, .theffe'edfly device for'the *collapsedller feeds' allerfirom the filler-,magazine into position tobe stuffed?intoy the; cartoni.: and Y`.the mechanism is.v also :brought intor action for stuing the-lleiintoftheicarton.

The rcarton has two' extensionsgonefof. which 7 may bedeeorbed ,as a lbodv .extension and the other as" a cover extension, and these-,two exten, v rsionsJuniterat"a foldededge-:pn feeding the can-.1

l 'f ton'.thisffoldedfedge. preferablyfdisposed forauf wardly so that 'the cover eXtensio-'nidoesnot inf v terfere withthe forwardemovernento thecar-V1 ton.. When ,thecarton is left onfthe stuffing table', this fcover ii'apvjorxcovergextension :pr'cVn-,iectsv lupwardly' at an angle andgwhenthe stuffing opera'-y tion takes place.` the. .ller-is shoved.V forwardly into theangle .authisforwardiolded edgel and Vthe 1 stuffed'scarton'pis 'immediately advaruzedl off y oftheYstuiingltableiIA It is then moved forwardly I way..clutchwhichrmoves ,the mechanism: of: .the

stuiing machinethrough a completecycler andy ktiren automaticallystopslit. f: As'soon asanother .f cartonV arrivesat: thegtrippinggdevice thelstuiiing.`

VInachinejstarts again.rv `.In.this, way, it for any' reason..;theY advance. ofn cartons fromwthe; carton machine 'ceases,g the stuffing Lmachine."will. auf-r the carton :aro-undy corner. llV delivers it into y vaguide-wayi'v whichis-disposed; inan inclined positionrin orderfto feed the cartoniupftogathe" Astuiiing machine .5f The carton'isvadvanced in.'

theV guide-sway by 'means' `ofztwo .endless ffee'dl countershaft 9 near theflowerz'end 'ofthe guide-.4` way.A "These chains; 1 carrydogsilllifwhiclrare 652 tomatically shut down. This reduces wearand tear' on thev stuingvmachineand also reducesthe 'amount o f'power necessaryfto drive. it.

Referring more: particularlypto 'the part's,A and' particularly tojigure 1;;- I` indicates -a rotary. feed device which engages.withecartonsjcomingrdown arv feed chutep ironi the carton..machine.3,:indi

cated. inzdotte'd. linesjf'Ihissfeedidevicet` lfv carriesv .chains 'i wlfiic'zhfrun"overv sprocket wheels ima equidistant froml each other and "which engage the rear4r edge of each Ycarton to: push it= up the guide-way;` Y e' Referring now to FigurerS, the npperlrends of 1 the -feed chains "Tl pass aroundsprocket wheelszlly and. l2 rf :a'riiedrespectivelyl on "shafts f I3r and .l 4. These sprocket wheels are mounted so as toforin' aA horizontal run llfor each feed.. chaine and.V

ythese* 'runs 15 are located substantially inthe f plane oi the stui'ing table lli. Thisstufling tablev is" 'ci .skeleton construction'lseel Figure 2) and;

In v'order vtol take the preferably 'constructed of a lower shelfcorn-A In Figure 3 a carton 2lis indicated in thefposition. in .Whiclritvwoeuld be left by; the ieed. chains 1., carton. irs/'shownjinlsection jand'itV will' be noted that it'includesfa, horizontal body extension Uganda cover extension 272 that diverge's -frorn the body yextension 2l and ornsV a folded idge 23 therewith. In this way-an acute angle 24 is formed bytl'ie' extensions. i

'j The stfY ng table Iii-includes an upper shelf 25 Iconiposedgo'fv twofhorizontal plates' Gand 2l (see Figure 2) and these Vplat'esare disposed apart so as to form alongslot 28 between them.

Assonnas acarton is left inthe position indiprising' two horizontal guide plates' il disposedy apartjto form aslot I8 between them.V 4'Ifherends ofi thesevpvlates adjacent to the sprocket wheelsy l l y'are iormedwith vdo;wnwardly curvedlbends i9 'so asftoenable rthem to cooperate'awith the lchains 'cated'.injigure 3,a1.collapsedfiller. is ied into Y y piace. adjaeent the carton; ready :to nestuned into;

the4 carton. y. pIn order toaccomplish this I prefer to. provide an inclined magazinefi (see Figurev 2).

in .whicha. the collapsed llersfe are stacked; Opposite .i thisfmagazine Iprovide a: pneumatic pickerjdevice 3 li which preferably includesa' tube 32vtlrtwo branches S3 at its forward'end carry- J ing` vacuumcups 3410i rubber or vsimilar material.

' Atizapproperly jtimed; instantQ-thilsgfeed device f {swings-inwardly fromzthefposition indicated inl f Figlur.e2 soA as .to enable the vacuux'nKV cups to pick orfY the foremostriiller' 3%.@ from.. the magazine; Yand theyacuumtubef then swings back toward the A vposition.irrvvhicll'itis shown inFigureZ until Y y into .a receiver' in ,which'--the. eartons are Astacked fori packed;- when .they are readyto rvbe 'tied up :in vloliri'dlesor ship'rnen'tn. .Y l .As pointedgout above, Vthe mechanism forstarte f ing up'thestungmachine isepreferably aL one-S the;` vacuum. ,isiv-brokeni'. whereupon the',y .ller .Zita

AViallsif the vacuunifcups and falls upona curved 'guideplate Sgfdownwhich the ller slides until it strikesr againstja; st op' .'ymounted on tlfieplategt.r 1 In Figure,;2one;oi .these `iillersis]l represented in dottedalinesinengagelnent withgthestop 35. :In

tl'iis-VwayQthefcarton; and V thev ller'areIV brought li'orthis purposeripreer. tofernploy endless tain. gpointgis' provided .with two @ushers or pins 38..)and. 39 Vvwlriicli'lproject outwardly .gironi the. chain. f Thepin `38 isn-intended torun inthe: slot Stil gage the ,rear edge othefiiller Silfwhile the 'other Y pinilV projects down into .the lowerfslot i3. of the @stuffing tableso. as toerigagetherear edgeof the.

message' as@ ne" mi. en@ sam table.; Theiegecl chain Slis preferably locatedjon ure y"1,.an'd these pinsgi and :39 are Aoffset 'from the Vchainse'as"tqbring'their end'snto 'the slots. v

These. pinsv 38. A andf`39 are; Afar enough ,apartS to.

"one sideof thestuiiing tablefyasindicated in Fig-'f y Y, enable thepin' tostufithellerwellfup. into;` vthe angleizjbefore the pin'fcornijnencesto ad'- Tot@ for flapper 44 that vis mounted'to rock on a horiposition which holds it in the path of themovable zontal shaft 45. This platel44isfnorr`nally in a horizontal position so that it virtually operates as 'an' extension of the lower shelfv of thef'stuing table.; Whilein this horizontal positionthe feed chain 31 pushes the stuffed carton over onto the fflapper plate 44, whereupon the flapper plate 4automaticallyswings upwardlyintoa substanlreceiver; Y I5 i lflapper plate 45.to have this timed movement, I

provide the flapper shaft 45 with a sprocket wheel 41 (see Figures 3 and`4) which islcontinuously VVtally vertical plane. '-In `doing this it carries'the stuffed carton past two resilient pawls or'holders Vit mounted inthe sidewalls 4| (see Figure 4).

As.' the carton comes .into position it pushes forward-'the stack of stuffed cartons already in the In order to enable the` oscillating member,- or

driven when the stufng machine is running,jby sprocket chain 48, and VIprovide 'suitable means,

,such as .an automatic releasing clutch 49,` which` enables .the shaft 45`to be rotated throughabout 90" and then released and returnedby a spring to its horizontal position'. In order to accomplish i Vthis the sprocket wheel 41 runs loose on the shaft 45.Z It carries a spring-pressed pawl 50, vthe tip ,of which may engage a-'shoulder 5| ona collar 52V which is V-rigid on theshaft 45. At each revolution of the sprocketrwheel. this pawlpicks up the Y shoulder5| and rotates the shaft` 45 until a :roller 53 onV the sideof the pawl'engages a toe y FiliV of a fixed Acam55. As Ysoon as V,this happens the p awl is thrown out." As soon, as the pawlV is thrown Vout, orV disengaged from the shoulder5| Y a coil spring''on 'the shaftv45 swings the :dapper backk toits horizontal position. One end of. this A spring` is xedin vafr'ame member 51 andthe ,other end is xed in a split yhub 58which is rigidly secured tothe Vshaft 45, andj this hub 58 is formed on an arm 59 vthat is connected by a link E5 to ay dashpot 6 I z It is preferable to employ this l Y dashpot 5| to dampen the return movement of the when a cartonis being fed to it.1 v v Referring particularly to Figures 1,l and 8,` a continuously driven shaft 62 is provided which actuates a main drive chain 63 for the stuffing ma.- ,f chine. .This main J drive chain passes. around sprocket wheel |54 on the main shaft, 55 ofthe machinej From this Amain shaft 65 the endless chain 31 is driven Athrough a Ysuitable'olrive chain by gear wheelsf12 and 13 from the main driving Y shaft5,5.i, I'he`countershaft carries a sprocket 5,6 ,whichpassres over a sprocketV wheel 51 on the ina-in shaft and a small sprocket 68 whichis mounted on'an upper countershaft 69. This shaft r' 69 lcarries the driving sprocket wheel 18 for the feed chains 31,` The drive for the main conveyor chains is eected Y from a countershaft 11 driven wheel 14 which drives achain 15 that runs up to I fa sprocket wheel 150m an elevated horizontal 'shaft |4 Vwhich carrieslthe sprocket wheels l2 k already described in connection with FigureB.

lnzorder' to trip the'stufng machine into yoperation, I prefer to employ a one-way clutch 18 on the main shaft 65 and VI control this clutch" "vof byV means ofV a ,trip pinor dog 19 mounted on abracket 80attached`to the guidefway 5., This tripping pin, ,1,9 is a rigid arm of a bell-crank lever' 8 i which carries asliding stem 82 guided to Y slide freely through'a guide 83 V (seel'igure,V 8).

The' end of this stem 82'is normally in afdepressed purpose.

part of theone-way clutch 18. When a carton at theV point v84 onthe guide-way 5 strikes thev pin 19, it swingsl it to the left and pulls the stem 82 upwardly, thereby releasing the clutch and kpermitting -the clutch to make one revolution.

j Before the clutch has completedthis one revolution thepin 82 willdrop back by gravity and be `in position to throw the'clutch out when ithas completed its one revolution. v Any suitableoneway clutch mechanism can beemployed for this In the present instance I prefer-'to mount the sprocket wheel 61 loose onthe shaft 65. Thehub 85 of this sprocket wheel carries adriving pawl `86 mounted to swing on a pivot pin 81. This p awlhas a rigidltail 88 at right angles to it, the end of which can come into-the path `of a driving face 89 which isformed as a notch in a driving clutch member 90 that is rigidly attachedto the Ashaft 65. `This driving face 89 is the edge'ofanotch in a flange 9| formed on the driving clutch member 90. A coil spring 3i.

is attached to a short arm 93 on the pawl 8B and tends to hold the pawl in thefposition indicated in` Figure A10. The direction of rotation for the shaft 65 is` clockwise, as indicated by the `arrow in Figure 10. As long as thelower end of the stem 82 is located in the path of the driving pawl 86 it will hold the `pavvl in a` position to hold the tail 88 in an inwardly. disposed position within the radius of the inner face of the fiangelei.

Hence the sprocket wheel 64 will rotate without driving the shaft 65. However, as'soon as the stem 82 is 'withdrawngthe spring 92 will pull the pawl' up'into the position indicated in Figure 10. This will bring the'end'of the tail 88 out to the location of thedriving face`89 ofthe driving clutch 90, and the pawl willthen pick up this clutch memberand rotate itthrough one revolution. As soon as'the pawl 86v strikes the` stem 82 Y it will swing the tail 88 inwardly and stop lthe drivefrorn the .shaft 55.v

The sprocket chain 48 that drives the flapper plate 44 is `driven by passing over the wheel 95 on the endof the `couritershaft 1|. Referring Vagain to the pneumatic picker device 3|, the pneumatic tube 32 is mounted for parallel movement on two parallel arms 96 and 91 which are connected by a link 98, the ends of which are mounted for adjustment on pins 99 and mi) that may besecured at any point in slots formed in the arms 96and 91. To the pin |550 a driving link |02 is attached, said link being at tachedf on a crank pin |03 carriedon -a crank |04 (see Figure 2). This crank |04 is rigidly secured to a horizontal shaft that is driven through the medium of a bevel gear |05 rigid on it and meshing with a driving bevel pinion |01 carried on a horizontal shaft 69that carriesbthe sprocket wheel 10, already referred to, which drives the pusher means, or feed chains-31. 'At each revolution` of the crank- |04 the link |02 is reciprocated so asll't'o impart the forward andreturn swinging movement to the suction tube 32.

The rear endk of the suction tube 32 Vis attached by a pneumatic hosev |09 to a vacuum cylinder ||0 (see Figurev 2), the plunger for which is actuated through the medium of the link |2 and loose rocker ||3 on the shaft 1| Thisloose rocker l|3 is rocked through the medium of a link-H4, the lower end:` of which is` attached to `4anv adjustable crank disc ||5 secured on the end lof the `main shaft 65. The crank disc i |5 is posi-v tioned' on the shaft 65 so that when the vacuum .Cupslt arrive in theifreium www??? `,tir-at-9 anism for Ystutng a collapsed ller into the carton, and automatic means for actuating the same -by a` carton being advanced by theconveyor.

,Y 13. In a machine for stuffing folded cartons with collapsed fillers, the combination of a stuing table, an endless conveyor having a run extending along a portion of said table, pusher pins onrthe conveyor for advancing the cartons and leaving the same one by one on the table, mechanism for'stufling a collapsed ller into the carton, mechanism including aV one-,revolution clutch 1 ing table, an endlessV conveyor havinga run ex` forr driving the means for controlling the said clutch by the carton being advanced by the conveyor.

last-namedY mechanism, and

le. In a machine for stuiiing folded cartons with collapsed fillers, the combination of a stufftending along a portion of Vsaid table, pusher pins on the conveyor for advancing each carton and leaving it on the table, an endless chain extending longitudinally over the stuffing table, a

sprocket wheel for driving said chain, a shaft rotating with the sprocket wheel, filler feeding means actuated by said shaft for dropping a collapsed filler into position above the carton lying onthe stuffing table, and dogs on the endless chains for pushing the iiller into the carton and 5 `for pushing the carton oif of the stufling table.

Vl5. In a machine for stuling folded cartons with collapsed fillers, the combination of a stuiiing table, an endless conveyor having a run extending along a portion of said table, pusher pins` on the conveyor for advancing each carton and f tating with the sprocket wheel, ller feeding means actuated by said shaft for dropping a collapsed ller into position above the carton lying on the stufling table, dogs on the endless chain for pushing the filler intothe carton and for pushing the carton off of the stuffing table, an endless'chain for driving said shaft, a driving shaft for said last-named endless chain and having a one-revolution clutch associated therewith,

and means for controlling the one-revolution Y clutch by a carton being advanced bythe conon the conveyor for advancing each carton and leaving it on the table, an endless chain extending longitudinally over the stuiiing table, a sprocket wheel for driving said chain, a shaft rotating with the sprocket wheel, filler feeding means actuated by said `shaft for dropping a collapsed ller into position above the carton lying on the stufiingtable, dogs on the endless chain for pushing the ller Vinto theY carton and for pushing the carton off of the stuing table, an endless chain for driving said shaft, a driving Yshaft for said last-named endless chain and having a one-revolution clutch associated therewith,

and means for driving the filler feeding means through said driving shaft.

17. Ina machine forstufng cartons with llers, the combination of a stuffing table having a lower shelf and an upper shelf, means for advancing the carton onto one of the shelves, means for placing the filler on the other shelf, said shelves having longitudinal slots through the same,

means mounted for movement over the stuffing Y table, said last-named means having means for engaging the filler and the carton, operating to push the nller into the carton and push the stuffed carton off of the stuffing table.

18. In a machine for stuiiing cartons with llers, the combination of a stuiing table having a lower shelf and an upper shelf, said shelves having alining slots therein, means for advancing the carton onto the lower shelf, means for placing the filler on the upper shelf above the carton, means mounted for movement longitudinally over the stuffing table and having parts for engaging the ller and the carton for pushing the filler into the carton and pushing the stuied carton oif of the stuing table.

19. In a machine for stufng cartons with fillers, the combination of a stuffing table having a lower shelf andan upper shelf, said shelves having alining longitudinal slots therein, means for advancing the carton onto the lower shelf and leaving the same at rest beyond the upper shelf, Vmeans for placing the filler on the upper shelf, and means mounted over the stuffing table movable longitudinally of the same and having parts for engaging the filler and the carton to push the filler into v,the carton and to push the f stuffed carton off of the stung table.

20. Inl a machine for stuing cartons with Va filler, the combination of Va stung table having a lower shelf and an upper shelf with alining longitudinal slots therein, a conveyor having a pair of chains with runs'extending partially along f Vthe lower shelf for advancing each carton to a position of rest beyond the upper shelf, means for placing a filler on the upper shelf abovethe carton, and pushing means mounted to move longitudinally over the stufng table and having means running in said slots for respectively engaging the filler and the carton to push the filler into thecarton and to push the stuffed carton off of the stung table.

21. In a machine for stuing cartons with fillers, the combination of a stuiing table, a receiver for receiving the stuffed cartons from the stung table, having a bottom plate substantially in line with the stufng table, an oscillating member mounted so as to'assume a position substantially in line with the stuning table to receive the stuffed carton, pusher-means for pushing the .stuffed carton off of the stung table and onto CHARLES L. BOND. 

